Napoli president insists Higuain will not be sold

Gonzalo Higuain will not be leaving Napoli during the summer transfer window, insists the president of the club Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Not for the first time, the Argentina international has been linked with a move to England in recent weeks. The 27-year-old was said to be close to joining Arsenal before he left Real Madrid for Napoli two years ago, and whilst the Gunners are thought to retain an interest, he has also been linked with Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs this summer.

Higuain, though, remains under contract at his Italian employers until the summer of 2018, and De Laurentiis told TV station Mediaset: “There is absolutely no chance that Gonzalo Higuain will leave. Gonzalo is a Napoli player. I have made his [release] clause clear in order to stop the constant speculation that appears in the press. There is a precise clause.”

The Serie A side paid €40million to lure Higuain from Los Blancos in 2013, and he has gone on to score 53 goals in 102 appearances in all competitions for the club. Determined to ensure he continues to wear their colours for the duration of his contract in Naples, the Partenopei have inserted a release clause in his deal which stands at a considerable fee of €95million.